Top



March 22, 1949. 4 F, RQSEEN I 2,464,994

TOP

Filed D90. 29, 1945 izveizfor dsepizgfioseezz Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOP Joseph F. Roseen, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,002

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a top and concerns itself with a structure providing stabilizing means whereby the top when in revolving condition in the air will always descend upon its pivot apex.

According to this invention, the upper part of the top is provided with an annular flange which is preferably undercut to form a groove which forms a stabilizing means for the top. It is possible to spin such a top, whip the same and cause it to jump, but in jumping it will always be stabilized and descend upon its pivot apex.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a top involving this invention illustrating the application of a whip thereto;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the top;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the top; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the top taken through a central vertical plane.

In referring now to the drawing, which illustrates the chosen embodiment of this invention, there is shown a top having a pivot apex 5 at the lower end of a tapering portion 6 which merges into a cylindrical portion 1. The tapering portion 6 and the cylindrical portion 1 are provided with continuous sharp ribs 8 which provide gripping means for a leather whip 9 fastened upon a handle Hi. When the leather is snapped around the top, it will cause the sharp ribs to bite therein so that the revolving top can be accelerated.

Above the cylindrical portion 1 of the top, there is a stabilizing flange l I which extends completely around the top; it is shown integral therewith, but it may just as well be attached thereto. An annular groove or depression I2 is preferably formed in the lower surface of the flange to increase the stabilizing effect.

In the use of such a top, it is only necessary to grip the lower portion by the fingers and give it a spin and release the same; the spinning top will drop upon the intended spinning surface in upright position, being maintained in such position by the stabilizing flange. then be applied to the spinning top to prolong The whip may the spinning period. In applying the whip, the top can be raised above the spinning surface such as the floor or table and caused to hop or jump like a kangaroo. As the top hops or jumps during such whipping operation, it will always descend upon its pivot apex due to the stabilizing means.

It will be appreciated that a top constructed according to this invention will afford much more amusement than the ordinary top in that the stabilizing feature allows the top to hop and jump during a whipping operation without canting and provides for a better performance.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various details of construction varied without departing from the principles of this invention so I do not propose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A spinning top having a lower spinning apex and a circular stabilizing flange at the top with a cylindrical portion beneath said flange terminating in a reduced tapering portion extending to said spinning apex, said cylindrical portion having a diameter about one half of that of the stabilizing flange and said cylindrical and tapering portions having sharp ribs adapted for gripping and holding a flexible top spinning whip for continuously spinning said top, said stabilizing flange serving to stabilize said top when the same is lifted by said whip during a whipping operation and causing the same to descend upon its apex while the same is spinning.

JOSEPH F. ROSEEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 50,980 Barbalich July 3, 1917 836,958 Bekefi Nov. 27, 1906 1,872,203 Wily Aug. 16, 1932 2,111,180 Fessenmeyer Mar. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 625,891 Germany Feb. 17, 1936 360,911 France Mar. 19, 1906 

